The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and her subsequent suspension from the Senate shows no signs of fading, as the embattled Kogi lawmaker has taken her case to an international platform.
The Senate had suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly violating its rules just days after she submitted a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and other misconduct—claims the Senate President has vehemently denied.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought justice and called on global democratic institutions to intervene in what she described as an unfair and illegal suspension.
“I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition for sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition for a fair, transparent investigation. But unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended,” she told the gathering.
“That means I’m here illegally, but I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you because this is a bigger picture. This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria,” she added.
Following her speech, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concerns about her safety, alleging that there were indications she could be detained against her will in New York for speaking on the matter at the global event. She attributed this potential threat to “the powers that be” from Nigeria.
Her suspension, announced last week, has sparked widespread debate across the country. The controversy began when she filed a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment, which was dismissed by lawmakers. She later submitted another petition, but instead of addressing her claims, the Senate proceeded to suspend her.
Despite this, Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to continue her fight against what she describes as “injustice.” However, Akpabio has firmly denied the allegations, maintaining that he has never assaulted women.
Her confrontation with the Senate President dates back to February 20, 2025, when her seat was unexpectedly changed during plenary, sparking a dispute. The two had also clashed in July 2024 when Akpabio, while attempting to correct her for alleged misconduct, remarked that the Senate was “not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow.” He later apologised for the comment.
